Ultimate guide to canceling a flight and getting a refund with major US airlines

Most airlines now have favorable policies if you need to cancel your flight, especially if you booked using points or miles. If you book the right fare with an airline that has friendly cancellation policies, you may not be out hundreds of dollars — or be on the hook for astronomical fees — should your travel plans change.

However, with many different airlines and varying policies, it can be overwhelming to figure out each carrier’s rules. To make it easier, we put together this guide about the cancellation and refund policies for the major U.S. airlines.

Can I cancel a flight and get a refund?

These days, all airlines allow you to cancel a flight, and most make it extremely easy to do so. You can usually cancel a flight online, and many carriers let you get a refund in some capacity.

For the most part, if you book a nonrefundable fare — the most common fare type — you’ll receive a credit or voucher for a future flight. However, you’ll find that some airlines charge a fee to cancel, and they might base the fee on how far in advance you cancel.

For example, Southwest Airlines has long had one of the most generous cancellation policies, regardless of the fare type. As long as you cancel at least 10 minutes before your flight’s scheduled departure time, there is no fee to cancel your reservation, whether it was a paid fare or one booked on points. That hasn't changed. But Southwest travel credits now have an expiration date after Southwest recently unveiled a slew of changes.

You’ll still end up with a travel credit for the amount paid if you cancel a cash fare, but your travel credits now expire. For most fare types, you'll have a year to use trip credits; for basic economy, you'll need to use the credit within six months.

The good news is that Southwest still won’t deduct any fees from that voucher. Also, if you booked using Southwest points, the airline will immediately return them to your account with no fees.

Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and JetBlue Airways also have favorable cancellation policies — as long as you didn’t book their least expensive basic economy fare.

On the other hand, Frontier Airlines will charge you a $75 fee when you cancel a reservation booked with miles. Canceling a paid reservation will cost $99.

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Perhaps the least favorable policy is that of Allegiant Air, which requires you to cancel seven or more days in advance and charges a cancellation fee per segment (not round trip). In some cases, you can cancel an Allegiant flight and receive a voucher to use toward a future flight, but you need to have purchased a flexible-fare ticket to make most changes.

So, if you're wondering when you can cancel a flight and get a refund, the answer depends on many factors, including the airline, the fare type and how far in advance you cancel.

How to cancel a flight with major airlines

Many airlines allow you to cancel a flight without hefty fees. Since every airline operates slightly differently, we’ve compiled the policies for each major airline and the associated fees so you can figure out how to cancel a flight. This information is for a regular passenger (not one with status) on a standard reservation.

If you booked under special circumstances, we’ve linked to our full guide for each respective airline, which goes into more detail about each one’s policy. These guides also include the policies for changing a flight instead of fully canceling.

Alaska Airlines’ cancellation policy

Canceling a paid Alaska Airlines reservation

Alaska allows you to cancel all reservations within 24 hours of booking — for travel starting more than 24 hours from the time of purchase.

After the 24-hour mark, there are no cancellation fees, and all fare types are eligible for some sort of credit. For Main Cabin and first-class fares, you’ll receive the full amount paid as a certificate to use toward a future flight. For flights purchased on or after July 19, 2023, even Saver fares are eligible for a credit. However, you’ll only receive a 50% credit of the ticket value, and the flight must be canceled at least 14 days prior to departure of the first flight on the ticket. (For flights purchased prior to this date, Saver fares will not receive any credit if canceled in advance.)

All certificates received when canceling a flight are valid for 12 months from the issue date of your original ticket or 30 days from the date of cancellation — whichever is greater.

The only way to receive a full refund is by purchasing a fully refundable fare during the booking process.

Canceling an Alaska reservation booked with miles

Passengers can cancel an award reservation by calling Alaska’s reservation center. The airline will deposit the miles back into your account once you cancel your award flight, and you’ll receive a refund for any taxes paid.

Allegiant Air’s cancellation policy

Canceling a paid Allegiant reservation

Allegiant has one of the more strict policies when canceling a flight: You must cancel seven days before departure and will still have to pay a fee. Typically, the fee is $75 per segment (not for the entire reservation), but for a while now, Allegiant has reduced the fee to $25 per segment. When canceling, you’ll receive a voucher for the amount paid (minus the total cancellation fee), valid for up to one year from the original booking date.

When canceling a flight within seven days, the airline won’t issue a credit, and you’ll lose the entire ticket value.

Canceling an Allegiant reservation booked with miles

Allegiant offers a unique policy regarding cancellations on an award booked with miles. You’ll be charged the same fee per segment, and the flight must be canceled at least seven days in advance. The points redeemed will not be redeposited back into your account; you’ll instead receive a voucher for the value of the ticket.

Related: How to change or cancel an Allegiant Air flight

American Airlines’ cancellation policy

Canceling a paid American reservation

You can now cancel all American reservations without a fee, except American’s basic economy fares. However, some flights originating outside North and South America have slightly different policies.

With basic economy fares, you’ll have to pay a $99 fee, which is deducted from the value of your ticket. This policy only applies to AAdvantage members for flights within the 50 states.

When canceling a reservation, AAdvantage members will receive a trip credit that expires one year from the date the original ticket was issued. Unfortunately, nonmembers only have six months to use trip credits issued on or after March 11, 2024. But since membership is free, this is a solid reason to enroll in the AAdvantage program.

Canceling an American reservation booked with miles

American allows you to cancel award flights for free. There are no redeposit fees, and your miles will immediately return to your account. Since you can’t book a basic economy fare with miles, there’s no need to worry about this more restrictive fare type. However, from personal experience, you’ll want to make sure that the taxes and fees paid are refunded back to the form of payment (such as a credit card) and do not get issued as a trip credit.

Related: How to change or cancel an American Airlines flight

Delta Air Lines’ cancellation policy

Canceling a paid Delta reservation

Most Delta fare types for flights originating in the U.S. and Canada (except Delta basic economy tickets) will allow you to cancel your flight without a fee. Flights originating outside of these two destinations carry different rules and up to $400 in fees.

When canceling a basic economy fare for travel originating in the U.S. or Canada for travel to the Caribbean, Central America or Mexico, the fee is $99. For all other routes, the cancellation fee is twice the amount, at $199. Unfortunately, basic economy flights originating in Mexico cannot be canceled.

Canceling a nonrefundable fare will result in an e-credit for the full amount paid (minus any cancellation fees, depending on fare type and route). However, if you cancel a refundable ticket, you’ll get the amount paid refunded back to your original form of payment. Currently, e-credits expire a year from the original ticketing date; that is just the book-by date, and you don’t have to travel by the expiration date.

Canceling a Delta reservation booked with miles

Similar to a paid reservation, as long as you book a fare type other than basic economy, you can cancel your flight, and Delta will redeposit the miles back into your account with no fee. Additionally, Delta will refund any taxes and fees to the original form of payment.

For reservations booked as basic economy (for domestic travel within the U.S. and Canada), you can still cancel your flight. However, Delta will deduct between 9,900 and 19,900 miles from the amount it redeposits into your account when you cancel.

Related: How to change or cancel a Delta Air Lines flight

Frontier Airlines’ cancellation policy

Canceling a paid Frontier reservation

Frontier Airlines is unfortunately no longer as customer-friendly as it used to be. If you cancel your flight, you’ll be charged a $99 fee per direction. When canceling a flight, you’ll receive a credit for the price paid minus the cancellation fee, and you’ll need to use this credit within 90 days of receiving it. Again, this is a “book by” date, and you can travel past the expiration date.

One way around the fee is by changing your flight instead of canceling. This only comes in handy if you know of another Frontier flight you’re looking to book. That's because there’s no change fee when making a change on a Frontier reservation 60 days or more before your flight. However, within the 60-day window, you’ll be charged a fee (per direction): $49 for flights changed 59 to seven days prior to departure and $99 for flights changed six days or less prior to departure.

Canceling a Frontier reservation booked with miles

Unlike many other airlines, Frontier charges a cancellation fee even if you booked with miles. Regardless of how far in advance you cancel, you’ll need to pay a $75 redeposit fee.

Related: How to change or cancel a Frontier Airlines flight

Hawaiian Airlines’ cancellation policy

Canceling a paid Hawaiian reservation

As with most other airlines, you can cancel a Hawaiian Airlines flight within 24 hours of booking for a full refund as long as the flight was booked at least seven days in advance.

After 24 hours have lapsed, you can cancel Main Cabin, first-class and business-class fares on Hawaiian without a fee — but there’s a catch. While you’ll receive a flight credit for the amount paid, you’ll lose any remaining value associated with your credit when you book a new flight if the new flight is less expensive than the previous flight. Main Cabin Basic fares can be canceled, but you will not receive any credit back.

Fully refundable fares are also slightly deceiving. To receive the refund back to your original form of payment, Hawaiian charges a $25-$100 fee — depending on the route. You can always avoid this fee by taking a travel credit instead, but it negates the concept of purchasing a refundable fare.

You can use the credits you receive from canceling a flight to book a new flight up to one year from the date the credit is issued.

Canceling a Hawaiian reservation booked with miles

For tickets purchased with HawaiianMiles, there’s no fee to cancel and redeposit your miles.

Related: How to change or cancel a Hawaiian Airlines flight

JetBlue Airways’ cancellation policy

Canceling a paid JetBlue reservation

For all fare types, except for Blue Basic fares, there’s no fee to cancel your reservation before departure.

For all nonrefundable fares, you’ll receive the entire amount paid back as a JetBlue Travel Bank credit, which expires 12 months from the original booking date. These credits are nontransferable, but you can use a credit to book for another passenger from within your JetBlue account.

For Blue Basic fares, the cancellation fee is either $100 or $200, depending on the route. For routes in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, the fee is $100 per person. For all other routes, the fee is $200 per person. You’ll still receive a travel credit (minus the fee) for these reservations.

Canceling a JetBlue reservation booked with miles

You can cancel any JetBlue flight booked with points without a fee. When canceling, the points redeemed will go back into your account. However, the taxes and fees paid will go into your JetBlue Travel Bank credit — not back to your original form of payment (which is the policy for most other airlines). Again, the credits you receive expire 12 months from the original booking date.

Related: How to change or cancel a JetBlue flight

Southwest Airlines’ cancellation policy

Canceling a paid Southwest reservation

Despite some dramatic recent changes, Southwest is still one of the best airlines if you need to cancel your flight. You can cancel a Southwest flight for free if you do so at least 10 minutes before departure.

However, there are new restrictions on travel credits.

For all fare classes, you’ll receive a credit for the amount paid. However, Southwest is introducing a new basic economy fare type with additional restrictions. Trip credits issued for canceled basic economy fares will now expire after six months. Other trip credits will expire after one year. (Previously, Southwest credits didn't expire.)

Anytime and Business Select fares, however, are fully refundable. If you need to cancel one of these fares, you’ll receive a full refund for the amount paid back to your original form of payment.

Canceling a Southwest reservation booked with miles

Similar to a paid reservation, when you cancel a flight booked with miles at least 10 minutes before departure, Southwest will return the points to the account used to book the award without charging any fees. The taxes and fees paid for the award will return to the original payment form.

Related: How to change or cancel a Southwest Airlines flight

Spirit Airlines’ cancellation policy

Canceling a paid Spirit reservation

Spirit allows you to cancel a flight and get a trip credit on most fare types. If you cancel, you’ll receive a credit. However, the credit isn’t transferable and expires 90 days from when you receive it.

For tickets purchased after Feb. 5, 2025, cancellation and change fees apply for Spirit's Go fares (Spirit's version of basic economy fares). Spirit will charge $99 for cancellation and between $59 and $99 for changes.

Canceling a Spirit reservation booked with miles

When canceling a Spirit flight you reserved with miles, the airline will charge you a $69-$119 fee to redeposit your miles if you cancel within 59 days of your flight. It won’t charge a fee if you cancel 60 days or more before your flight.

Related: How to change or cancel a Spirit Airlines flight

United Airlines’ cancellation policy

Canceling a paid United reservation

For almost all United flight tickets, except basic economy fares, you can cancel for free if you are traveling within the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii), Canada, Mexico or on an international flight that originates in the U.S. For United basic economy tickets, if your plans change, you can cancel and get a partial refund.

Unless you book a refundable fare (or a basic economy fare), you’ll receive a flight credit for the value of the price paid when you cancel. These credits expire one year from the date the credit was issued.

Canceling a United reservation booked with miles

United no longer charges fees for canceling award flights; your miles will be redeposited after you cancel your flights. However, United charges a $125 fee, regardless of status, for redepositing miles if you’re a no-show to your award flight.

Related: How to change or cancel a United Airlines flight

Can you cancel plane tickets?

Many people book flights way in advance and hope their vacation plans stay intact. However, plans can change. Fortunately, many airlines offer more friendly cancellation policies than we once saw, so you don’t have to wonder whether you can cancel a plane ticket ... in most cases.

Whether you book with miles or as a paid reservation, you can always cancel a plane ticket, but the refund policy varies from one airline to the next. You must be comfortable with how you’ll receive your money or miles back. For the most part, you’ll receive the money back as a credit and the miles back into your account. For lower-cost airlines, though, there’s typically an associated fee. You might even lose the value of the ticket.

Related: Complete guide to changing and canceling award tickets

Can you refund plane tickets?

Whether you can get a refund for plane tickets depends on the fare type purchased and what you are looking for in terms of a refund. No airline offers full refunds back to the form of payment for every ticket purchased. Instead, you must purchase a more flexible fare type or a refundable ticket if you want this privilege.

While not all airlines offer refundable fare options, some airlines allow you to purchase an add-on to your ticket. This add-on may make your reservation fully refundable if you need to cancel.

For example, Frontier offers new "bundle" packages, and one of the benefits of these packages is that your fares are more flexible.

Some airlines do not allow refunds on their most basic fare types. If your plans change and you must cancel, you’ll lose your entire ticket value.

Related: Why you should wait to change or cancel your flight if you want your money back

Bottom line

Before purchasing your next plane ticket, it’s smart to be well versed in the airline’s policy. You always hope that your intended travel plans go off without a hitch. However, life happens, and there are times when you might need to cancel a flight.

If you’re not confident of your plans when booking your flight, booking with a more favorable airline or purchasing a fare class with more flexibility may be your best bet.

Related reading:

• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a beginner or expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can’t travel without